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Ford Appointed as Head of GSA Enterprise Development Office

GSA #9337

August 14, 1996
Contact: Jason McManigal
Hap Connors
(202) 501-1231

David J. Barram, acting Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), announced today the appointment of Dietra L. Ford to the position of Associate Administrator for the Office of Enterprise Development at GSA.

Ford, who has held government positions in both the legislative and executive branches for over 15 years, will be responsible for GSA's outreach to small disadvantaged, minority and women-owned businesses to help increase their participation in government contracting opportunities. She will also serve as a liaison between GSA, and the Small Business Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency and other agencies and associations.

"Dietra Ford brings to the Enterprise Development office a solid record of leadership and management accomplishments, as well as a thorough understanding of federal government operations," said Barram. "She is committed to the idea of forging new and lasting partnerships between the federal government and small, minority and women-owned businesses to increase economic opportunities and to create a strong economy."

Prior to joining GSA, Ford was the Executive Director at the Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board, managing a budget of $5.6 million and a staff of 35. As the principal officer of the Board, Ford defined policy direction, oversaw implementation of management reforms and represented the agency across the country. This cabinet level Board was Chaired by the Secretary of Treasury.

From 1975 to 1993, she worked as a Senior Legislative Associate for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the District of Columbia. From 1971 to 1974, she was the Project Officer for the Cooperative Assistance Fund, a private foundation that made program related investments in minority businesses nationwide. Prior to that, Ford worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Model Cities Administration.

Ford first became involved in the Clinton Administration when she was named as Cluster Coordinator for Government Operations at the Presidential Transition Office and also served on the 1992 Clinton/Gore Campaign Committee, where she was a leader in Women of Color for Change.

The list of awards, fellowships, civic and professional affiliations and publications of Fords' are numerous. She has been named one of the Outstanding Young Women in America, 1981, and to Leadership Washington, 1991. She is a member of Women in Housing and Finance, was on the Advisory Board of The Women's National Bank and the Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, to name a few.

Ford earned her Master of Science from Boston University, Boston, MA, and her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University in Washington, D.C.